Joe Conason: Measuring GOP Extremism...

[babylonsister]

Measuring GOP Extremism: What Carville and Greenberg’s Latest Polling Reveal
Posted on Aug 1, 2013
By Joe Conason


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At the moment, only 31 percent of voters identify as Republicans, compared with 38 percent who identify as Democrats and 30 percent who call themselves independents. (Aggregated surveys collected by Pollster currently confirm an even worse scenario, with Democrats at 34 percent and Republicans at 23 percent.)

But just as significant as party identification is how voters see the Republican “brand.” Although Democrats as a party and in Congress are not exactly beloved, their net negatives are around 10 points below those of the Republicans, who are regarded with absolute disdain by most of those polled. Only 13 percent believe that the GOP “shares their values” and only 9 percent believe that the GOP has “realistic solutions to the nation’s problems.”

The project’s polling also uncovered bad omens for Republicans among almost all age cohorts. While the Republicans can cite a statistically meaningless 1 percent advantage among Generation X voters, the party has no “generational base” and is strongly disfavored by both Baby Boomers and Millennials.

Indeed, the gap between the parties among upcoming Millennials is nearly 20 points, with only 21 percent identifying as Republican—a data point that Republican leaders may well find terrifying. Moreover, the Republican base is holed up in rapidly depopulating rural areas, while cities and suburbs strongly favor Democrats.

It is also worth noting how alienated moderate Republicans are from their own party, with nearly half regarding it as “too extreme.” Up to 40 percent of moderate Republicans regard their party as “out of touch,” a statement that resonates with 46 percent of Republican-leaning independent voters. Nearly 40 percent of moderate Republicans believe the party is “dividing the country.”

more...

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/measuring_gop_extremism_what_carville_and_greenbergs_latest_polling_reveal_/

[highplainsdem]

1. K&R

[CTyankee]

2. I have loved Joe Conason since Al Franken used to have him on his radio show back in 2005

and Al would sing a corny little intro song called "Carry on, Joe Conason!"

I remember loving Joe's sonorous voice and was thrilled to see him on TV some time later. I wish he were on TV shows more often. He's excellent.